Be sure to include your name, daytime phone number, address, name and phone number of legal next-of-kin, method of payment, and the name of the funeral home/crematory to contact for verification of death.

The Panthers lost their final game in 2014 to the visiting Blue Jackets, and head into the offseason with hopes of improving drastically.

The Panthers’ 20th anniversary season began with a victory but wins came few and far between following opening night in Dallas.

On Saturday, Florida lost for the 53rd and final time this season as Columbus swept the season series with a 3-2 win at BB&T Center.

As the Blue Jackets head to the playoffs for the second time in their history, the Panthers go into another offseason without playoff hockey.

Florida missed the playoffs in 12 of the past 13 seasons and 15 of 19 overall. The Panthers will finish no better than 28th in the 30 team league fresh off a last place finish in 2013.

“It’s a really bad feeling knowing that you’re done, that you’re not coming back to practice,’’ said coach Peter Horachek, whose status for next year is not known.

“It’s not a good feeling knowing we’re not preparing for the playoffs. The most exciting and best part of the season starts now. I want our players to feel that. It’s not about playing hockey; it’s about making the playoffs. It’s where we need to be.”

General manager Dale Tallon spoke before Saturday’s game of his vision for a brighter future — one that involves spending a lot more money — but before Tallon can go to work, this wreck of a season finally had to come to a close.

Saturday, the Panthers played a pretty decent game against a Columbus team that dominated play in the first two games earlier this season.

Florida was in a scrappy mood after the Jackets took a 1-0 lead 47 seconds in on a Cam Atkinson goal.

Ed Jovanovski and Erik Gudbranson mixed it up a few times before Jovanovski was kicked out for his elbow to the head of Corey Tropp.

That penalty kill led to a shorthanded goal as Vincent Trocheck picked off the puck in the Florida zone and walked in on Sergei Bobrovski and scored with 1:01 left in the opening period.

Florida took its first lead of the season on the Blue Jackets early in the second when Jimmy Hayes scored on a nice slap shot, only the Blue Jackets scored the next two goals to escape Sunrise and head into the postseason.

“We obviously have a talented young group but we need more time to develop together,’’ said Hayes, who ended with 11 goals. “I think we have a bright future here. We need to gel, get off to a good start next year.’’

Columbus’ win assures them of a first-round date with the Pittsburgh Penguins. A loss and the Jackets could have been forced into a meeting with the dreaded Bruins.

For Florida, well, Sunday means locker clean out day and the team dinner.

The offseason starts Monday.

“It’s going to be great to see our young guys develop,’’ goalie Roberto Luongo. “We’re all excited to see what happens over the next couple of months. Then we’ll get back together and start playing hockey again.’’

HISTORY MAKERS

Nick Bjugstad ends the year as Florida’s leading scorer with 38 points — the lowest point total to ever lead an NHL team following a full 82-game schedule.

Scott Pellerin led the expansion Minnesota Wild with 39 points in 2000-01 despite ending the season with the Carolina Hurricanes.

“I did what I could do this season and it is what it is as far as the record goes,’’ said Bjugstad, the first rookie to lead the Panthers in scoring.

Florida also became the first team to finish a season last in both power play and penalty kill since the 2009-10 Maple Leafs.

• Scott Clemmensen suited up in a Panthers jersey for the what is probably the final time on Saturday morning. Clemmensen was one of three goalies on the ice for morning skate but later in the day was sent back to AHL San Antonio.

Clemmensen is a free agent after five seasons with the Panthers.

• Travis Viola, the Panthers’ Vice President for hockey operations, will represent the team in Toronto for Tuesday’s draft lottery drawing.

Florida had the worst record in the league last year but ended up being passed up by Colorado for the first pick. The Panthers came into Saturday with the third-worst record in the NHL but could slide into the second spot.

Join the Discussion

Miami Herald is pleased to provide this opportunity to share information, experiences and observations about what's in the news. Some of the comments may be reprinted elsewhere on the site or in the newspaper. We encourage lively, open debate on the issues of the day, and ask that you refrain from profanity, hate speech, personal comments and remarks that are off point. Thank you for taking the time to offer your thoughts.